It’s 1993. The air in South Central is thick.
Ice Cube just dropped Lethal Injection. While the critics were busy arguing if he’d gone too "G-Funk" or stayed too "hardcore," a specific track started vibrating through every lowrider from Crenshaw to Long Beach. "You Know How We Do It" wasn't just another song. It was a mood.
Actually, it was the mood.
If you grew up in that era—or even if you just discovered it via a GTA radio station—you know that opening synth. It’s lazy. It’s silky. It sounds like a California sunset feels. But underneath that smooth exterior lies one of the most calculated pieces of production in hip-hop history. It’s a masterclass in how to capture a specific geography in four minutes of audio.
The Anatomy of a G-Funk Masterpiece
Most people think "You Know How We Do It" is just Ice Cube rapping over a catchy beat. That’s a massive undersell. Quincy Jones III (QDIII) handled the production, and honestly, the man is a genius for what he did here. He didn't just loop a record; he layered a vibe.
The track famously samples "The Show Is Over" by Evelyn "Champagne" King. But it’s not a lazy lift. If you listen to the original 1977 soul track, it’s upbeat, almost disco-adjacent. QDIII slowed it down. He let the bass breathe. He added that signature high-pitched "worm" synth that defined the era.
Cube’s delivery here is different, too. On AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, he was screaming. He was angry. He was the "Nigga Ya Love To Hate." By the time he got to "You Know How We Do It," he’d found a different gear. It’s a "laid-back" aggression. He’s not shouting to be heard anymore because he knows he owns the room. He’s talk-rapping. It’s conversational. It feels like he’s leaning against a 1964 Impala, just observing the chaos of the city with a smirk.
Why This Track Defined the "West Coast" Sound
Whenever people talk about the "West Coast sound," they usually point to Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. Rightfully so. But Cube’s 1993 single is the essential counterpart. Where Dre was polished and cinematic, Cube was gritty and atmospheric.
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The lyrics aren't just rhymes; they are a travelogue.
- "Fool, you know how we do it..."
- References to the "mad circle."
- Shoutouts to 213, 310, and 818 area codes.
It’s local. Very local. And yet, somehow, it became a global anthem. It’s one of those weird paradoxes in art—the more specific you are about your own neighborhood, the more people in Tokyo or London seem to relate to it. They might not know where the 110 freeway is, but they know the feeling of a Friday night when everything is clicking.
The Evelyn "Champagne" King Connection
Let's talk about that sample again. Using 70s soul was the backbone of G-Funk, but choosing "The Show Is Over" was an inspired move. Most producers were digging through P-Funk crates (George Clinton, Bootsy Collins). By going toward Evelyn King, QDIII gave the track a slightly more sophisticated, melodic edge.
It’s why the song gets played at weddings today. It’s why your uncle likes it. It has a DNA that stretches back to the R&B of the 70s, making it feel timeless even when the lyrics are firmly planted in the early 90s.
The Video: A Time Capsule of 1990s Los Angeles
You can’t talk about "You Know How We Do It" without mentioning the music video. Directed by Marcus Raboy, it’s essentially a home movie of a perfect day in L.A.
You’ve got the lowriders. You’ve got the Venice Beach boardwalk. You’ve got the Dickies suits and the Raiders gear. It’s visually iconic because it didn't try to be a Hollywood movie. It looked like a Saturday afternoon.
There’s a shot of Cube in the car, looking out the window, and it’s become one of the most meme-able, recognizable images in rap history. It captures that brief window in time when West Coast rap wasn't just a genre; it was the dominant cultural force in the world.
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The "Lethal Injection" Controversy
Context matters. When "You Know How We Do It" came out, Ice Cube was in a weird spot. He’d just finished The Predator, which was a massive commercial success, but the critics were starting to sharpen their knives. They thought he was softening up.
Lethal Injection (the album) received mixed reviews at the time. Rolling Stone wasn't particularly kind. They felt the "G-Funk" transition was a bit derivative of what Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were doing.
Looking back 30 years later? The critics were mostly wrong. While the album as a whole might not be as cohesive as Death Certificate, its peaks—specifically "You Know How We Do It" and "Bop Gun (One Nation)"—are untouchable. They showed that Cube could adapt. He wasn't just a "protest rapper." He was a musician who understood how to make a hit without losing his edge.
Impact on Modern Hip-Hop
Listen to Kendrick Lamar. Listen to YG. Listen to Nipsey Hussle (RIP).
The lineage is direct. That "lazy" flow that seems so effortless? Cube perfected it here. Before this, most rappers felt the need to stay "on the beat" with a very rhythmic, percussive cadence. Cube drifted. He stayed slightly behind the beat, creating a sense of relaxation that mirrors the physical act of driving a car with hydraulic suspension.
Modern artists still use this track as a blueprint for "vibe" records. It’s the gold standard for how to make a song that feels expensive and street-level at the same time.
Misconceptions and Technicalities
One thing people often get wrong: they think this song was part of a beef.
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By '93, the beef with N.W.A. was largely cooling down (though not entirely over). This track wasn't a diss record. It was a "status" record. It was Cube saying, "I’m still here, I’m still the king of this city, and I don't even have to try that hard."
Also, a fun technical fact for the nerds: the song was recorded during a period when digital sampling was starting to get expensive and legally complicated. The way QDIII manipulated the samples—filtering out frequencies to make room for Cube’s deep baritone—was incredibly forward-thinking for the tech they had in '93.
How to Capture the "You Know How We Do It" Vibe Today
If you're a producer or a creator looking to bottle this kind of magic, it’s not about copying the notes. It’s about the philosophy.
- Prioritize the "Pocket": The beat shouldn't be busy. It needs space. If you can't nod your head slowly to it, it’s too fast.
- Atmospheric Sampling: Don't just take the hook. Take the feeling of the original record. Filter the highs, boost the lows.
- Vocal Contrast: Cube has a very heavy, aggressive voice. Putting that over a soft, soulful beat creates "sonic friction." That’s where the magic happens.
- Specific Storytelling: Name the streets. Name the food. Name the cars. Universal appeal comes from specific details.
"You Know How We Do It" remains a cornerstone of hip-hop because it doesn't try too hard. It’s confident. It’s comfortable. It’s the sound of an artist at the absolute peak of his powers, realizing he doesn't need to shout to get the world’s attention.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
To truly appreciate the depth of this era, go back and listen to the original Evelyn "Champagne" King track "The Show Is Over." Notice how the bassline was reinterpreted. If you're a student of the genre, compare Cube’s delivery on this track to his work on Straight Outta Compton. The evolution of his vocal control is a lesson in artistic maturity.
Finally, watch the music video again, but ignore Cube. Look at the background. Look at the fashion, the architecture, and the "way of life" being documented. It’s a historical record of a Los Angeles that has largely been gentrified or changed beyond recognition. That is the real power of the song—it’s a time machine.